1952 Topps #3 Hank Thompson PSA EX 5

1952 Topps #3 Hank Thompson PSA 5 - A Giant Who Helped Change the Game

The 1952 Topps #3 Hank Thompson brings an important piece of baseball history to the very beginning of Topps’ landmark set. Thompson was a versatile infielder and outfielder for the New York Giants, but his legacy extends well beyond his play on the field. In 1947, he became the first Black player in St. Louis Browns history, and two years later joined Monte Irvin in helping integrate the Giants.

Graded PSA EX 5, this example sits just three cards into the legendary 1952 Topps checklist. Thompson’s portrait is presented against a vivid yellow backdrop, giving the card a distinctive look within the opening run of the set. By 1952, he was an established member of a Giants club that had captured the National League pennant the previous season alongside Willie Mays and Monte Irvin.

Thompson spent nine seasons in the Major Leagues and played an important role on the 1954 World Series champion Giants, hitting 26 home runs that year. His place in baseball history, however, reaches beyond statistics. Thompson was part of the generation that helped permanently reshape the Major Leagues, making 1952 Topps #3 an early-set card with a story far greater than its number on the checklist.